Other books that might interest you

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  The Universe's Hidden Blueprint...

  Dirk Fallon

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  The universe, a vast and ever-expanding expanse, has fascinated humanity for centuries. From the first glimmering stars to the complex galaxies that stretch across the sky, the cosmos has been a subject of study and wonder. The exploration of the universe is a journey that continues to reveal new insights into the nature of existence, the forces at play, and the structures that govern the cosmos. Understanding the universe's hidden blueprint, particularly the role of dark energy, is central to understanding how it operates on the largest scales. 
  The birth of the universe, often referred to as the Big Bang, marked the beginning of everything we observe today. This singularity was not just the origin of matter and energy, but also of the very fabric of space and time. As the universe expanded, it cooled, and matter began to form. Over billions of years, stars, galaxies, and other cosmic structures developed, with gravity playing a key role in shaping the distribution of matter. However, this gravitational pull, which typically brings things together, began to reveal an unexpected and mysterious aspect of the cosmos in the 20th century. 
  One of the most significant discoveries in modern cosmology was the realization that the universe’s expansion is accelerating. This observation shook the foundations of astrophysics, as scientists had long assumed that the universe's expansion would slow down due to gravitational forces. Instead, what they found was that galaxies were moving apart faster than ever, suggesting the presence of an unknown force. This force was later dubbed "dark energy," and it has become one of the most crucial elements in understanding the universe’s large-scale behavior.

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  Chrysalis - Maria Sibylla Merian...

  Kim Todd

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  Before Darwin, before Audubon, there was Maria Sibylla Merian. 
  An artist turned naturalist, Merian was born just 16 years after Galileo proclaimed that the Earth orbited the sun. But at the age of 50, she sailed from Europe to South America on a solo scientific expedition to study insect metamorphosis—an unheard-of journey for any naturalist at that time, much less a woman. 
  When she returned, she produced a book that secured her reputation, only to have it savaged in the 19th century by scientists who disdained the work of “amateurs.” 
  Chrysalis takes us from golden age Amsterdam to the Surinam tropics to modern laboratories where Merian’s insights fuel a new branch of biology. The New Yorker called it a "spellbinding biography." In it, Kim Todd brings to life a 17th century woman whose boldness and vision would still be exceptional today.

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  The First Astronomers - How...

  Duane Hamacher

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  The First Astronomers is the first book to reveal the rich knowledge of the stars and the planets held by First Peoples around the world. 
  Our eyes have been drawn away from the skies to our screens. We no longer look to the stars to forecast the weather, predict the seasons or plant our gardens. Most of us cannot even see the Milky Way. But First Nations Elders around the world still maintain this knowledge, and there is much we can learn from them. 
  These Elders are expert observers of the stars. They teach that everything on the land is reflected in the sky, and everything in the sky is reflected on the land. How does this work, and how can we better understand our place in the universe? 
  Guided by six First Nations Elders, Duane Hamacher takes us on a journey across space and time to reveal the wisdom of the first astronomers. These living systems of knowledge challenge conventional ideas about the nature of science and the longevity of oral tradition. Indigenous science is dynamic, adapting to changes in the skies and on earth, pointing the way for a world facing the profound disruptions of climate change. 
  'This book marks a profound paradigm shift in our understanding of Indigenous scientific traditions, how they are transmitted, and their relevance to life today.' Professor Marcia Langton, University of Melbourne 
  'A ground-breaking book of enormous scope.' Brian Schmidt, Nobel Laureate in Physics 
  'A glimpse into Indigenous ways of reading landscapes reflected in the night sky through ancient processes of inquiry.' Dr Tyson Yunkaporta, author of Sand Talk 
  'A wonderful combination of scholarship and poetry.' Dr Annette S. Lee, Lakota astrophysicist 
  'Beautiful, engaging, and startlingly profound.' Alan Duffy, Professor of Astrophysics

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  Invasive Plants - Guide to...

  Sylvan Ramsey Kaufman, Wallace...

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  Newly updated: “Invasive plants are ecological tumors that degrade food webs wherever they go. The third edition of [this book] is an invaluable reference.” —Douglas Tallamy, New York Times–bestselling author of Nature’s Best Hope   This easy-to-use, wide-ranging guide to invasive plants in North America features full-color photos and descriptions of more than 250 alien species—both terrestrial and aquatic—that are in some cases changing the landscape to an almost unimaginable degree. Accompanying text describes the plant’s environmental and economic impacts as well as management techniques used to control it. Also included is an explanation of what an invasive is and a step-by-step identification key. Used by U.S. Forest Service botanists, this is an essential guide to understanding this unprecedented environmental challenge that is threatening biodiversity—and the human population that depends on it to survive.   “A colorful, general field guide to the major invasive plants of North America…packed with relevant information.” —Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences   “A wonderful guide.” —The Roanoke Star

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  The Immune Mystery - A Doctor's...

  Jørgen Jelstad, Dr. Anita Kåss

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  The Immune Mystery follows doctor and researcher Anita Kåss's quest to solve the autoimmune puzzle, beginning with the premature death of her mother, who developed rheumatoid arthritis shortly after giving birth to Anita. As a child, Anita vowed to study the illness and one day find a cure. 
   
   
   
  Becoming a respected doctor and researcher, Anita devoted herself to studying auto-immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Why do so many autoimmune diseases start to show symptoms during and after childbirth, perimenopause, and menopause? Could autoimmune diseases be linked to our changing hormones? 
   
   
   
  Despite the groundbreaking nature of her research, Anita had to fight for her ideas against the conventional wisdom and casual sexism of the medical industry—even as she made a discovery that earned her a record-breaking US$95 million pharmaceutical deal. 
   
   
   
  A compelling blend of incredible determination and cutting-edge science, The Immune Mystery changes the way we think about autoimmune diseases. Anita offers solace to patients struggling with questions about their health, and introduces a powerful new voice in medical storytelling.

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  Care Without Pathology - How...

  Christoph Hanssmann

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  Over the past two decades, medical and therapeutic approaches to transgender patients have changed radically, from treating a supposed pathology to offering gender-affirming care. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in New York City and Buenos Aires, Care without Pathology moves across the Americas to show how trans- health activists have taken on the project of depathologization. 
   
   
   
  In New York, Christoph Hanssmann examines activist attempts to overturn bans on using public health dollars to fund trans- health care. In Argentina, he traces how trans- activists marshaled medical statistics and personal biographies to reveal state violence directed against trans- people and travestis. Hanssmann also demonstrates the importance of understanding transphobia in the broader context of gendered racism, ableism, and antipoverty, arguing for the rise of a thoroughly coalition-based mass mobilization. 
   
   
   
  Care without Pathology highlights the distributive arguments activists made to access state funding for health care, combating state arguments that funding trans- health care is too specialized, too expensive, and too controversial. Hanssmann situates trans- health as a crucible within which sweeping changes are taking place—with potentially far-reaching effects on the economic and racial barriers to accessing care.

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